Obituary of Ellen Eichenbaum

~~EICHENBAUM, Ellen
1926 - 2017
Ellen Eichenbaum (nee Aasamӓe) passed away peacefully at the Kingston Health Sciences Centre on Wednesday, September 20th in her 91st year. Ellen was born in Estonia, the daughter of Peeter and Ida Aasamӓe. Predeceased by her husband Hendrik in 2007, and survived by her sister Aime and family in Estonia, brother Martin in Sweden, daughter Eva Barnes (Jack) of Kingston and son Toomas Eichenbaum of Burlington. Lovingly remembered by grand-daughters Krista (New York City) and Laura (Burlington), and extended family. Ellen's pastoral childhood in Estonia ended in the autumn of 1944 during the Second World War with an escape by boat with her little brother across the Baltic Sea to Sweden. Her parents, who remained on the family estate, were deported to Siberia during the Soviet occupation. In Sweden, Ellen finished school and worked as a laboratory technician at the Lund University Hospital before marrying in 1950. After the birth of Eva, the family emigrated to Canada, living first in St. Catharines, where Toomas was born, and then in Niagara Falls for 58 years. Ellen moved to Burlington to be close to family in 2012, and then to Kingston. She enjoyed being part of a socially active Estonian community in the Niagara area. Her husband and children were the focus of her life until 1971 when she returned to work in the medical field as a home care nurse. Ellen yearned to visit her beloved home in Estonia, and fulfilled her dream after Estonia became independent again in 1991. Mamma Ellen, whose life story is a celebration of strength, hard work, loyalty and grace, had a long and remarkable journey. She will be greatly missed. Cremation has taken place in Kingston, with a private family interment to follow in Niagara Falls at a later date.